Roberts at top of game

The Pacific women's basketball program got another day to bask in its success on Monday after winning the first Big West Conference championship in program history on Saturday.

Jagdip Dhillon

The Pacific women's basketball program got another day to bask in its success on Monday after winning the first Big West Conference championship in program history on Saturday.

The other coaches in the conference named Lynne Roberts coach of the year, while all five of Pacific's starters were named to its All-Big West teams. Roberts becomes the first coach in program history to receive the honor, while senior captain Kendall Rodriguez was named first-team All-Big West for the second consecutive season. Pacific (24-6, 14-4) earned a double-bye to the semifinals and will play an opponent to be determined at noon on Friday at the Honda Center in Anaheim.

"It's been a great year, so far and I feel humbled and honored," Roberts said. "When you start literally at the bottom and get to where we are, it's really rewarding when you finally get there. It's been a journey, but at the end of the day, we have great players and players make coaches look good."

Rodriguez is joined on the first team by friend and teammate Erica McKenzie, while junior guard Gena Johnson and sophomore center Kendall Kenyon were named to the second team and senior forward Ashley Wakefield received honorable mention. Cal Poly junior forward Molly Schlemer (12.7 points, 6.8 rebounds) was named player of the year.

McKenzie said it was "neat" to be on the first team with Rodriguez after the pair has started in 110 games together. The senior guard also said the team is proud of Roberts being honored as well.

"It just shows how much time and effort she puts into this program and how much she's changed it," McKenzie said. "You see how much her work paid off."

The Pacific men's team finished second in the Big West and was reasonably represented. Seniors Lorenzo McCloud and Travis Fulton were named second team All-Big West. The No. 2 seed Tigers (19-12, 13-5) will play No. 7 UC Santa Barbara (11-19, 7-11) in the quarterfinals at noon on Thursday.

"I'm happy for Lorenzo and Travis," Pacific coach Bob Thomason said. "Lorenzo at times and even Travis played like first-team players and you usually need two players like that to have a chance."

Fulton said the Tigers have come a long way from last season's 12-18 finish.

"Especially after just an OK season last year, it feels good to bounce back and have the kind of year I did, so it's a great accomplishment for me," Fulton said. "But I'm focused on these next few games and winning the tournament."

Long Beach State's Dan Monson was named coach of the year for the third consecutive season after his team claimed its third consecutive regular-season championship and 49ers senior guard James Ennis (17 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.8 steals, 1.4 blocks per game) was named player of the year. After blending into a veteran NCAA Tournament team as a junior, the 6-foot-7 wing broke out as Cal State Fullerton interim coach Andy Newman called him the "biggest impact player in the league."